Printing telegraph transmitter



April 26, 1938. K, WEBER 2,115,185.

PR INTING TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER Filed Jan. 25. 1936 INVENTOR )I a KARL. WEBER 8 I 8 A rToRN Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,115,185 PRntTING TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER Karl Weber, Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany, as-

signor to G.v Lorenz A. G.,' B'erlin-Tempelhoi', Germany, a corporation of Germany Application January 25, 1936', Serial No. 60,835 In Germany January 30, 1935 21 Claims.

This invention pertains .to automatic telegraph systems and apparatus and more particularly to printing telegraph apparatus arranged for inclusion at a station unattended by an operator. 4

The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will send automatically in response to operation of a single key code signal combinations representing certain prearranged information.

A corollary object is to provide a multi-code sending key operating to send a plurality of code signal combinations in response to each operation of the key.

A further object is to provide signal responsive mechanism by which code signal combinations respresentative of the identity of a called station may be transmitted in response to depression of a key at a remote controlling station.

A feature of the invention is the provision of mechanism for locking all keys in a keyboard containing a key efiective for each depression to transmit code signal combinations so that during the time interval required for the transmission of such plurality of code signals, the operation of any other key will be prevented.

A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an expanded perspective view of printing telegraph apparatus for-sending and re- -ceiving auxiliary messages.

The operating parts of a structure according to this invention comprise a keylever l control- 35 ling a set of five code bars 2, each of which controls one of a set of five code latches 3 which in turn latch or leave operable individually five code transmitting levers 8. A plurality of key levers, such as I, engage a universal bar 5 connected to 40 a pull bar 6 having a hook end engaging a bell crank lever l which inturn engages a clutch trip lever 8. Clutch trip lever 8 controls the engagement of clutch l0 through which power is communicated frompower shaft 9 to drive startstcp shaft I I which carries cam barrel l2 adapted to relcase serially the five code transmitting levers 4 and thereby to control in code manner five code transmitting contacts l3. A latch lock bail I4 is biased by a spring 43 and is controlled by a latch lock cam [5 on shaft II and controls a rocking bar l6 which, through a bell crank lever IT, controls a sliding bar 18 which normally blocks the path of movement of a pull bar stop member 2| to hold .it out of the path of pull bar 22. Sliding bar 55 I8 when operated is engaged by latch l9 and thus held out of the path of pull bar stop member 2|. Also included in the structure is a case shift member 23 shown in its letter case position and v cooperating with a case shift latch 24 which engages and restrains key operating lever 25., Pull 5 bar'22 engages one end of pivoted pull bar rocking lever 26 whose other end operates latch 21 in a manner to withdraw latch 21 from power slide 28, thus permitting slide 28 to be moved up wardly by key operating lever 25, which at the same time will depress a multi-code key lever 29. Pivoted on key lever 29 is an operating latch 30 adapted to operate a multi-code normal latch 3| in response to movement of key 29 to release rocking lever 32' which carries pawl 33 operating upon teeth of ratchet wheel 34 through pawl tooth 35. Retaining latch 36 engages normal latch 3| to retain key 29 in its operated position independently of lever 25. Key lever 29 engages code latch control bar 31 which in turn engages all code latches 3 and restrains them from interfering with the operation of code levers 4 when code drum 39 controls levers 4 by reason of offnormal positions of code drum 39 attained as a result of step-by-step rotation of code drum shaft 38 by its aifixed ratchet 36. Further detail of the operating parts together with the manner of their operation is as follows:

A plurality of key levers i each having a key 50, comprising a keyboard sufficient to transmit severally letters of the alphabet, figures, and other characters are provided in the manner of any telegraphic transmitter, and to this assembly of single-code key levers is added according to this invention the multi-code key lever 29. Each of the single code key levers i engages directly five code bars 2 none of which is directly engaged by the multi-code key lever 29, and by the depression of any key lever B the code bars 2 are set longitudinally in sliding manner to right and left in code combinations, thus operating the five code latches or contact controlling members 3, pivoted at 5! so that a code bar 2 positioned leftwardly as viewed in the figure will rotate its associated code latch 3 clockwise to disengage its upper end from its corresponding code transmitting lever 4 while code latches 3 positioned rightwardly at the lower end and leftwardly at the upper end will engage respectively their code transmitting levers 4 to prevent operation thereof by cams of cam barrel l2, thus setting up a. combination of elements adapted to transmit a code signal from code transmitting contacts l3. Similar to the manner disclosed in U. S. Patent No, 1,965,572 issued to C. W. Burcky et al. (having special reference to Fig. 6 of the patent) depression of any key lever I also will engage and depress universal bar 5 rocking itupon its pivot 52 so that throughits connection at 49 it pulls the pull bar 6, whose hook end 53 rotates bell crank ,1, upon its pivot 54 t and lever 6 by a lug 55 engages a fixed member 56 which imparts a downward motion to, bar 6 and disengages hook 53 from bell crank lever I,

thus liberating bell crank toreturn to normal' This momentaryunder tension of spring. 51.

; action of bell crank I has caused a similar action mined code if that pull bar 22 is not obstructed...

in clutch trip lever 8 pivoted at 58 which momentarily has removed its clutch engaging'finger 59 from clutch l0, permitting clutch ID to engage its two members together whereby power shaft 9 begins rotation of start-stop shaft Both of parts I and 8 are restored by spring 51' while universal bar 5 and pull bar 6 also are restoredby a spring not shown. The start-stop shaft rotates once and transmits a code signal of impulses by contacts |3 controlledin code manner by such levers 4 as are not restrained by latch13, and at the end of one cycle of rotation, finger 59 again is engaged by clutch I0 and causes clutch |0 to disengage its members from each other,-

The code thus transmitted'to line is effective upon a remote receiver having a case shift member 23 responsive to aspecific predetermined code, and having a' thereby stopping stop shaft pull bar 22 also responsive to another'predeterby stop member 2-|.. Other codes operatetype bars and function membersinthe. printer at the responsive station.

The description abovediscloses the operation of a single-code key lever'l and the resultant transmission to a line circuit ofa single code under control of cam barrel l2 in response to :a keyleverl.

Operation of the multi-code key lever 29 results in. transmission'to the same line channel by operation of the same contacts |3 but under control of cams or contact controlling members on code drum shaft 38 in response to key lever 29 instead of under control of latches 3. Manual depression of key 60 rocks key lever 29 upon its pivot 6| againstthe biasing action of spring 40 and lifts the extremity 63 which engages arms 64 and 65, operating bell crank lever -'I by means of arm 65 to trip clutch ID in manner similar to that above described, with the further provision that members and 8 are retained in their operated position so that finger 59 will not be engaged by clutch III in its successive rotations. Also, arm 64 operates bar 31 pivoted at 66 to move bar 31 against the upper ends of all code latches 3,.thereby disabling all code latches 3 from control of code transmitting levers and also moving all code bars 2 to their left-hand operating-positions, although as herein disclosed, these bars may not be directly engaged by key lever 29. Key lever 29 also by its downward movement at the left-hand side of'its pivot 6| draws member 8 on operating )atch 30 into engagement with member 69 on normal latch 3|, thereby rocking the latch 3| on its pivot I I, withdrawing tooth 12 of latch 3| from cam 13, and withdrawing tooth 14 of latch 3| from rockinglever 32 Latch 36 pivoted at 16 upon key lever 29 now is operated by its spring 15 to move its upper portion 4| into a notch 42 on the lower end of normal latch 3| whereby key lever 29 is mechanically locked in its depressed position and will remain so locked as long as normal latch 3| remains rotated counterclockwise as described.

Simultaneously with the operations just described and while the finger. of the operator still holds key 60 depressed, clutch ||l begins the movement of shaft H which rotates cam |5 to release the latch lock bail l4 pivoted at 11 whose counterclockwise motion under the action of spring 43 releases rocking lever 32 whose spring 18 rocks the lever 32 upon its pivot 19 tolift pawl 33 which steps ratchet 34 and'cam 13, thereby stepping the cam notch of cam 13 out of alignment with the tooth 12 of normal latch 3| and estopping the return of latch 12 into normal position until such time as cam 13 shall have traversed successive stepsto complete its cycle of rotation into its normal position. The face of cam 13 now holds normal latch 3| locked, which in turn holds retaining latch 36 and thereby holds key 60 locked in have; completed: a full cycle. The actions described since depression of key 60 by the operator havetaken place, almost simultaneously, and the operators finger now isnot required further upon key 60. 3 It will be noted that the locking of key 60, downward 'has locked extremity 63 upward, which has locked bar 31' outward or rightward,

; and which inturn locked the five code latches '3 in clockwise position and has locked the five code bars 2 in their left-hand positions so that no .key' canbe depressed since the inability of code .bars 2 to yield to any key lever will estop all key levers I from depression, and the operator having depressed key 60 is in turn estopped from depressed position until code drum shaft 38 shall,

depressing any key to interfere with signals in v the line during the extended period of transmission-responsive to key 60 until that period of transmission is completed.

Transmission of the plurality of codes now procoeds as follows: With trip lever 8 locked in clockwise position, shaft 9 rotates shaft II and cam barrel |2 continuously by means of clutch Ill and operates levers 4 cyclically and in repeated cycles, the coded nature of the repeated cycles being determined, by the control-blocking or nonblocking of thelevers 4 by cams in the code drum j 39 in lieu ofthe control-blocking by latches 3..

Ateach revolution of shaft cam l5 lifts and lowers bar which rocks rocking lever 32, which by pawl 33-steps code drum shaft 38 one step to present a succeeding set of cams upon code drum 39 to control the levers 4. When the entire series of code si'gnals has been transmitted, the

last rocking movement 'of lever 32 will step code drum shaft 38 into normal position, and at the end of the'last code, cam l5 will lift bar I4 to rock the lever 32 counterclockwise, whereupon tooth 12 being opposite the notch ofcar'n l3 and the left-hand end of lever 32 now being below tooth 14 of normal latch 3|, the normal latch 3| under tension of its spring 8| will resume its norpositlonas shown, thereby releasing retaining latch 36 and releasing key lever 29, permitting key Soto rise under the influence of spring 40, thereby. depressing the extremity 63 and permitting arms 64 and 65 to fall, the action of arm 65 mitters of the nature herein considered to provide a key I for each possible combination in the sys-'-' tem of codes for which the transmitter is being used. To such a keyboard this invention adds a multi-code key 60 to transmit upon each operation thereof a plurality of code signals which necessarily therefore must be selected among the code signals for which individual keys already have been provided.

In providing for the transmission of station identifying signals responsive to code signals received over a transmission line, the structure of this invention uses the equipment already provided and described above for the transmission of the multicode message by a single multi-code key and accomplishes this result by provision of apparatus to depress key 60 automatically and mechanically in response to the receipt of a predetermined code signal or of a plurality of code signals in predetermined order.

It is well understood that type printing telegraphs using type bars and pull bars for operating type bars are provided normally with signal responsive notched code bars which jointly select a single pull bar which then may be operated by a motor driven power bail. Such a pull bar is shown at 22 and such a power ball is shown at 20. In such receiving printers there is provided also a case shift member which assumes one mechanical position in response to a single code signal and retains that mechanical posi tion throughout transmission of all code signals intended to print letter characters, then changes its mechanical position in response to a single code signal and retains the changed position throughout all codes intended to print figures and characters. Such a member is shown at 23 and it is shown in its letters or unshift position.

In response to figures" or shift code signal, the member 23 changes to its downward position,

thereby permitting spring 85 to rock a code shift latch 24 upon its pivot 96 to withdraw its tooth 82 from engagement with the key operating lever 25, thereby unlocking lever 25 to be responsive to its spring 81 subject to the unlocking of power slide 28 by latch 27 in response to rotation of pull bar rocking lever 26 by pull bar 22. Members 23 and 24 have been operated in response to a received code signal for figure shift, a received code signal identified with pull bar 22 will cause the response of code bars I05, in the manner disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,745,633 issued to S. Morton et al., to select lever 22 and release it for operation by its spring 88- into position to,

be engaged by power ball 20. Pull bar 22 accordingly moves into path of power bail 22, is engaged by a rising movement of power bail 20, and is drawn upward, thereby rotating rocking-lever 26 and depressing arm 9| of latch 2'I, withdrawing the tooth of latch 2! from power slide 28 which is a member sliding upon two studs at 92 and 93 and which is engaged and depressed by power bail 20 in the depressed or downward position of that power bail. Power ball 20 being now in elevated position and slide" being now unlocked by latch 21, the spring 8! acts to rock the key operating lever 25 upon its pivot 86 to depress key 60 and to rock the lever 29, which acts as above described to trip the clutch I and to set the cam 13 off normal so that key lever 29 becomes locked with key 60 in depressed position. Slide 28 has been lifted by spring 81 associatedwith lever 25, and functions as a means for restoring lever 25. Upon the immediately subsequent depression of power ball 20, the pull bar 22 is urged downwardly by its spring 88 to release the rocking lever 26, and power slide 28 is depressed by bail 20 to engage end 95 of key operating lever 25, whereupon latch 21 by a spring 45 reengages its notch in slide 28, thus locking the slide in its depressed position and locking the key operating lever 25 in its position shown. The complete operating cycle of code drum 39 now takes place, as described above for transmission under control of key 60 when manually depressed, and at the end of that complete operating cycle, the key 60 is unlocked as before, It will be noted too, that keys I are locked against operation in the same manner and for the same reasons set forth in connection with the manual operation of key Bil so that the cyclic transmission controlled by code drum 39 key I.

By the operation of the two keys at any station; namely, figure shift and who-are-you, the transmission of line signals causes a response in the receiving magnet of the inquiring station aswell as inthe receiving magnets of the remotely connected station. It is desired in this instance that the remotely connected station should respond with its identification signals but that the signature sending mechanism at the home station should not respond, thus leaving the home station printing apparatus responsive to reverting control by the remotely connected station. It will be noted in such an instance that the operation of the who-are-you key at the inquiring station results in the rotation of shaft II, While the reception of the who-are-you code at the remotely connected station does not result in the rotation of shaft I I. Advantage is taken of this d stinction to permit the remotely connected may not be mutilated by any station and non-rotated shaft II to respond to move the slide It forward, whereupon spring I02 connected from latch I9 to frame of the printer urges latch I9 to rock upon its fixed pivot 28 to engage a shoulder on slide it to retain slide IS in its withdrawn ,or forward position so that lug IIlI on pull bar stop member 2i will not be estopped from vertical movement by the end of slide bar I8. Lug Hi2 of member 2I is engaged and depressed by power bail 20 against tension of spring I23, but since the latching of bar 68 by latch Hi, the rising of power bail 22 will permit stop member 2i to rise into position to block the selective movement of pull bar 22. Selector code bars I95 now align their notches in code combinations, to select the have not been operated and pull bar 22 is not estopped from responding to the code signal.

It follows then that at the remotely connected station there is a response of pull bar 22,.rocking lever 26, latch 21, key operating lever 25, and multi-code key lever 29, whereas at the inquiring station the operation of stop member 2| causes pull bar 22 and accordingly lever 29 to remain unoperated. At the return movement of power bail 20, its engagement withlug I02 restores member 2| to its lower position against thetension of spring I03. While in itsupper position, lug [0| has engaged latch l9 and has lifted the tooth of latch I 9 out ofengagement with the shoulder of slide bar l8, permitting slide bar I8 to move slightly to engage luglnl under power of spring I01, and thenby descent into its lower position lug I02 has removed itself from the path of slide bar [8, and slide bar I8 again takes its normal or rearward position, thus all parts are again normal. in the inquiring station and the inquiring station is in concli-- tion to be fully responsive to the multi-code' signal which the remotely connected station now has been conditioned to send.

It. is obvious that this invention may be applied in variant manners to automatic telegraph transmitters and receivers of variant designs.

Therefore the appended claims are not intended to be limited by the specific design here shown which is applicable to a specific transmitter and receiver but are intended to embrace the .full range of equivalents when this invention is modified in mechanical interpretations to coniorm -to other types of automaticv telegraph machines.

-Whatis claimed is:

1.111 a 'telegraph'tra'nsmitter, a-plu'rality of character keys, means common to saidkeys to. transmit a codesignal; representing'a single:

character in responseto one operationot a key, a further key, and means cooperating with said means to transmit a plurality of wcode signals representing a plurality oi characters in: re sponse to one operation of, said further'key."

station. a V 3. In a telegraph, ,transmitter, a plurality of character keys, means to transmit code signals each representing a singlecharacter in response to one operation of a ,key,a further key, and means to transmit a plurality of said code si nals representing a, plurality of; characters in response to one operation of the further key.

4. In a telegraph machine, a selecting mechanism, an operating element-se1ectable by said mechanism, a transmitting mechanism for transmitting codecombinations of impulses, a manually operable key lever, means actuated upon the operation of said key lever to cause said transmitting mechanism to transmit a plurality of code combinations of impulses, and means associated with said element and said key lever to operate said key lever in response to operation of said element.

5. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of character keys, means to transmit a code signal representing a single character in response to one operation of one of said keys, 9. further key, mechanism set into action by said further key to transmit a plurality of said code signals representing a plurality of characters in' response to one operation of thekey, and signaling mechanism responsive to a received code signal and controlling also the setting of said mechanism into action.

6. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality 01' character keys, means to transmit a code signal representing a single character. in response to one operationof a key, a further key, means to transmit a plurality of code signals representing a plurality of characters in response to one operation of said further key, and mechanism controlled by said further key to lock said character keys continuously during the extended period of transmission of a plurality ofcode signals representing a plurality of characters.

'7. In a telegraph transmitter, single character key levers, means including code latches and code bars responsive to operation of one of said nals and to lock said single-character key levers,

and further answerback means responsive to a received 'code signal and including said firstmentioned means.

9. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of single-character key levers, a plurality of code:

bars controlled directly by said key levers for' transmitting a single code signal in response to operation of one of said single-character key levers, a multi-character key lever, and means adapted. to transmit a plurality of codesignals representing a plurality of characters in response w 0. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of single-character key levers, a plurality of contacts associated with individual operating levers and a common transmission circuit, a plurality of contact-controlling members controlled by said acter key levers, a multi-character key lever, and a plurality of further contact-controllingmembersjcontrolle'd by said multi-character keylever and controlling said contacts to transmit a plurality' of code signals representing a plurality of characters in response to one operationof said multi-character key lever. n 11. In a, telegraph transmitter, a plurality of single-character keys, a continuously operative power shaft, a start-stop member, a clutch-connecting said shaft and said member, a clutch controlling member, a clutch operating member controlled by one of said single-character keys and efiective to operate said clutch controlling member during a time period less than the time of one revolution of said start-stop member, a multicharacter key, and a clutch operating member controlled by said multi-character key and effectoaone operation of said multi-character'key lever "and indirectly controlling said code bars for lock- L ingpurposes only.

tive to operate said clutch controlling member; during a time period greater than the time of one revoltuion of said start-stop member.

12. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of contacts associated with a transmission line, .a set of single-code contact-controlling members, a

set of multi-code contact-controlling members,

jable by said transmitting member to drive said control member in stepping manner at each revolution of said transmitting member, a keyand mechanical parts operated thereby to start said transmitting member and thereby said control member, a latch engaging said key parts to hold said key in depressed position, and a cam on said control member engaging said latch to control said latch to retain said key in depressed position while said control member is in any code signal controlling position.

14.- In a telegraph transmitter, electrical transmitting contacts, operating members for said contacts, key controlled latchesengaging said operating-members in code manner, a multi-code controller also engaging said operatingmembers in code manner, and a multi-character key and associated mechanical parts engaging said multicode controller to start said controller into rotation and engaging said key controlled latches to prevent them from engaging said operating members.

15. In a telegraph transmitter, multi-code transmitting mechanism, a key engaging said mechanism and operative when depressed to start said mechanism into automatic operation, a lever engaging said key to depress said key, case shift mechanism, and a latch operated by said case shift mechanism and effective to restrain said lever whenv said case shift mechanism is in one case position and to clear said lever when said case shift mechanism is in another case shift position.

16. In a telegraph transmitter, a motor shaft, electrical signal transmitting contacts, a manual key and a key lever and associated mechanical parts engaging said contacts and controlling said contacts and said motor shaft to transmit in code manner when said key lever is operated, a power driven member and associated mechanical parts responsive to a predetermined received code signal combination of electrical impulses to cause said motor to drive said member, mechanical parts engaging said power driven member and said key lever and eifective to operate said key lever as a result of operation of said power driven part, and an interfering member controlled by said key lever and associated mechanical parts and efiective when so controlled to engage said power driven member in a manner to disable said member for a limited time from response to said code signal.

1'7. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of transmitter keys, a pull bar, a further transmitter key mechanically associated with said pull bar and controllable thereby, and a member mechanically associated with said plurality of keys and operable thereby to engage said pull bar to estop operation of said pull bar. Y

18. In a telegraph transmitter, a key, power members associated with said key for operating 1 said key in response to a predetermined code sigmitter and a receiver, a rotary signal-generating member in the transmitter, a cyclic mechanical member in the receiver, means insaid receiver operable in response to signals generated by said rotary member, a selectable member controlled by said means in said receiver and operable by said cyclic member following its selection, and means to prevent operation of said selectablemember settable by said rotary member and restorable by said cyclic member.

20. In a telegraph apparatus, a transmitter, a

receiver, a mechanical member in said receiver.

means in said receiver operable in response to signals generated by said transmitter, a selectable member controlled by said means and operable by said mechanical member following its selection, and means to prevent operation of said selectable member settable by said transmitter and restorable by said mechanical member.

21. In a response-signal telegraph apparatus, a transmitter, a response-asking key in said transmitter, means in said transmitter operated in accordance with the operation of said key for transmitting signal impulses, a receiver, a responsecontrolling selectable member in said receiver,

- means in said receiver responsive to said impulses for selecting said member, a mechanical member settable by said response-asking key for obstructing operation of said response-controlling selectable member, and means in said receiver for restoring said mechanical member to its normal position.

KARL WEBER. 

